Closure device



Dec. 15, 1942. D, HARPOLD 2,304,911

CLOSURE DEVI CE Filed Nov. 25, 1940 Patented Dec. 15, 1942 CLOSURE DEVICE Dale M. Harpold, Bellwood, Ill. ,;asslgnor to Vulcan Stamping & Mfg. 00., Bellwood, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 25, 1940, Serial No. 366,968

3 Claims.

The invention relates to closure devices of the split ring type commonly used for clamping the covers in place on sheet metal pails, drums and similar containers and more particularly to split clamping rin'gs having toggle linkages for openingand closing the ring.

Split clamping rings of the above general character are applied to the containers while in an open or expanded condition and are then contracted over opposed portions of the container and its cover by operating the toggle linkage to the closed position. In order to maintain the ring in contracted condition, the linkage must, of course, be securely held in closed position. Many different constructions have been used heretofore for locking the ring closing linkages in closed position but all of these have been open to the objection that they are hard to manipulate, extremely difficult to seal with the usual wire seal and, if unsealed, liable to accidental opening when the container is handled. Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide ring locking means of novel and improved construction which effectually avoids the above difliculties. Another object is to provide novel latch means including fixed and movable members both carried on the ring structure and positioned to facilitate the attachment of a seal.

Still another object is to provide an improved latch device embodying novel meansfor maintaining it in latching position.

A further object is to provide an improved latch device for split ring closures which is simple and rugged in construction, easily actuated, reliable in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a split ring closure device embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ring showing the linkage latched in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the latch released and the linkage in open position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the ring as applied to a sheet metal container, the section of the ring and latch being taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views of the ring and latch taken respectively on the lines 5-5 and 8-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ring showing a modified form of stop.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed but intend'to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

By way of illustration the invention has been shown as applied to a split ring closure device ill of the type commonly used in clamping the covers on sheet metal pails, drums, barrels or similar containers. Such covers are formed with a eripheral, downwardly facing flange l l adapted to seat on a cylindrical bead l2 rolled around to the top of the container and the clamping ring is appropriately shaped to fit over these parts as .shown in Fig. 4. In order to press the cover flange firmly against the cooperating bead and thus efiectually seal the container, the split ring I I is placed around the top of the container while in an expanded condition and is then contracted into tight engagement with the flange and bead by means of a suitable toggle linkage l3.

The linkage l3 as herein shown comprises a lever member l4 pivoted as at l5 at one end to a bracket l6 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to one of the ends of the ring l0. At a point intermediate its ends the lever is connected to the other end of the ring by a link II. The link of course, is pivotally secured to the lever at one end as by a pin I8 while the other is pivotally secured by pins l9 to a bracket 20 spot welded to the said other end of the ring. In this instance the lever I4 is arranged to swing in the plane of the ring between the open position shown in Fig. 3 and the closed position shown in Fig. 2. Preferably the lever is of substantially channel form and slightly bowed longitudinally so as to fit snugly against the body of the ring when in the closed position.

To maintain the ring in its contracted or clamping condition, the lever It must be held securely in closed position. The invention provides novel latch means for this purpose which is easy to manipulate. exceptionally reliable in operation and yet inexpensive to manufacture. This latch means in its preferred form comprises an elongated latch member 2| which may be conveniently formed from sheet metal by a simple stamping operation. The member is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the ring to swing in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the ring or across the path described by the actuating lever l4. Pivotal support for the member is provided by a headed pin 22 anchored in the ring adjacent the end to which the lever H is pivoted. The pin, however, is spaced back from the ring end so that one end of the latch member may be swung into overlapping relation to a tongue 23 projecting from the free end of the lever as shown in Fig. 2.

To facilitate operation of the member 2| to latching position, the lever engaging end has one edge, in this instance the upper edge, turned outwardly and the opposite edge turned inwardly to present an inclined cam surface 24 for engagement with the tongue 23; With this arrangement the member can readily slide over the tongue when the latter is slightly out of contact with the ring. Moreover, the camming action of the member tends to force the tongue and lever into tight engagement with the ring thus insuring complete closure of the same.

Operation of the latch member to latching position may be effected either by a suitable tool or merely by pressure of the fingers exerted on the endopposite the lever engaging end. To facilitate this operation, the upper edge of the said opposite end is formed with an inturned flattened gripping portion 25 of sufficient width to permit convenient manipulation of the member. The lower side edge opposite the finger engaging portion ds turned outwardly to form a stop engaging element 26 for cooperation with a fixed stop 21 on the body of the ring. The stop 21 may be conveniently formed by striking out a small tab from the body of the ring as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The stop 21 is desirably positioned so that the latch member 2l'is positively blocked against movement in one direction beyond the' latching position. Moreover, the stop and the flange of the member may be provided with alined holes 28 and 29 through which a wire 30 of a conventional sealing device may be inserted. It will be observed that the stop and the cooperating flange element of the latch member are located on the outer periphery of the ring and are inclined outwardly therefrom so that it is a very simple matter to thread the sealing wire through the holes as shown in Fig. 4.

Means is also provided to effectually hold the latch member in latching position when the sealing wire is omitted. For this purpose the latch member is formed with an outwardly facing longitudinally extending ridge 3| while the ring is formed with an upstanding projection or nib 32 adapted to engage in the channel formed by the under side of the ridge. The ridge also serves to stiffen the latching member longitudinally but leaves it sufiiciently flexible so that it can be forced over the nib by a slight pressure. Thus, accidental movement of the latch to open position is prevented and the container to which it is applied can be shipped safely without being sealed.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modified stop formed by pressing out an elongated strip 33 of material from the body of the ring so as to form a loop-like projection extending longitudinally of the ring. The latch member coacts with this type of stop in the same manner as with the stop 21 but the sealing wire in this instance is inserted through the hole in the latch member and between the strip 33 and the body of the ring.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a latch mechanism of novel and advantageous construction for use with linkage operated split ring closure devices. The latch mechanism is of simple, rugged construction easily manipulated, inexpensive to manufacture and yet extremely reliable in operation. The lever engaging portion of the latch member is advantageously shaped to exert a camming action on the actuating lever and efi'ectually force it into fully closed'position. Further the opposite end of the .atch member is appropriately shaped to facilitate its manipulation and likewise to provide an effective stop preventing movement of the member beyond the latching position. By reason of the novel location of the stop and stop engaging portions of the latch mechanism, the insertion of a sealing wire therein is materially facilitated.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a split ring closure device having an actuating lever pivoted thereon to swing between open and closed positions for expanding and contracting the ring, of latch means operative to hold the actuating lever in closed position comprising, an elongated member having a longitudinally extending outwardly facing ridge formed therein, means pivotally supporting said member on the ring for movement into and out of a latching position in which one end of the member is disposed in overlapping engagement with the free end of the actuating lever, said member having said one end formed to present a cam surface tending to force the lever into closed position and having its other end formed to provide along one edge a flattened manual gripping portion and to provide along the opposite edge an outwardly projecting flange like portion engageable with a stop struck from the ring to prevent movement of the member in one direction beyond the latching position, and a projection formed on the ring engageable in the depression formed by, said ridge for yieldably retaining the member in latching position. v

2. The combination with a split ring closur device having an actuating lever pivoted thereon to swing in the plane of the ring between an open and a closed position for expanding and contracting the ring, of latch means operative to hold the actuating lever in closed position comprising, an elongated member, a pin securing said member to the ring intermediate its ends for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ring whereby one end of the member may be swung into and out of overlapping relation to the actuating lever, said other end of the member having one edge portion bent outwardly for cooperation with a tab struck from the ring to prevent movement of the member beyond latching position and having the opposite edge portion bent inwardly and forming a finger engaging portion to facilitate manual operation of the member to latching position.

3. The combination with a split ring closure device having a pivoted actuating lever adapted to be swung into a closed position closely adjacent the ring to contract the same, of latch mean for holding the actuating lever in closed position comprising, an elongated member pivoted intermediate its ends upon the ring to swing into a latching position with one end overlapping the free end of the actuating lever, means for positively limiting the movement of said member in one direction including a tab struck outwardly from the ring, and an outwardly bent extension on the other end of said member adapted to engage said tab when the member is swung into latching position, said extension and said tab being perforated for the reception of a wire sealing device.

DALE M. HARPOLD. 

